BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Problems with Images

Photography Question 

Misty Blue
 

SHooting in the RAW


I shot in the RAW today for the first time w/ my camera…. Now I can not figure out how to open the files on my computer….. I have Photoshop elements 7, it tells me my files are damaged. My camera stills shows the pictures on the card… I think I must be missing something… Would appreciate any help!!!! Thanks……


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August 15, 2009

 

Misty Blue
  Never mind I figured it out….


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August 15, 2009

 
- Carlton Ward

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  Hi Misty,
I have been shooting raw for years but I haven't went out shooting "in the raw" before :) Sorry, I couldn't resist - you kind of left yourself open on this one.
Usually when your computer cant read a file, its because it doesn't have the latest software update for whichever editing program you are using.
Just curious if that was your what happened with PSE7 ?
Cheers,
Carlton


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August 15, 2009

 

Misty Blue
  I’m not sure what I’m doing….. But, I figured out I to had to process to file in my camera before uploading to my computer. I really do not understand all of that but I got my files so I’m very HAPPY! I realize I may not be using the right terminology. Sorry…..


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August 15, 2009

 
- Dennis Flanagan

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  You may need to go to the Adobe homepage and make sure you have the Camera Raw plug-in for your camera.

You shouldn't have to do anything in camera first. Another idea is to shoot in RAW and JPEG if you have that option. It will enable you to view the jpeg thumbnails.


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August 15, 2009

 
- Carlton Ward

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  Hello Misty,
It sounds like you are not sure what is going on with raw processing. There are many things you need to know & understand so that you have a firm grasp of raw files & processing. I think Charlotte Lowry teaches a 4 week course for raw processing. I took a 4 week course from Jon Canfield a few years ago here at BP when I was starting to shoot raw and it was a great course to get me up & running quickly.
RAW is preferred because we decide how the image is processed. JPEGs are processed in the camera and are also a limited medium for editing afterwards compared to RAW.
I do 90% of my images editing in ACR.
Cheers,
Carlton


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August 16, 2009

 

Misty Blue
  Thank for the advice….. I will check into both of your suggestions. It’s great to know people or willing to give advice to the newbie…. I really do appreciate your help!!!


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August 16, 2009

 

Randy A. Myers
  Misty, if you are processing the raw file in the camera, you may as well shoot jpg because all you are doing is adding an extra step to get back to the same point. The advantage of shooting raw is the processing of the file with raw converter software which is more complex and flexible than on board camera software. Make sure you have downloaded the latest conversion software as everyone has said and give it a go. With a little practice, you will improve your images over in camera conversions.


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October 19, 2009

 
- Carlton Ward

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  Hi Misty,
How did you attach your facebook link to your BP gallery ? I am reading threads & site help but do not see where this is mentioned anywhere..
Thank you,
Carlton


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October 20, 2009

 

Kathryn Wesserling
  Hi, Misty - after a year of frustration about downloading and opening RAW files, I finally figured it out (now shooting nothing but RAW.)

Canon provided a program (Digital Photo Pro) in which I can view all RAW images, and make initial adjustments (saving each edited image under a slightly different file name.)

PSP (Corel) allows for opening CR2 file extensions. Before I can apply any filters (Topaz, etc), the colors must be decreased (ticks me off!!!) to 8-bits. I'm still trying to figure out which 8-bit choice is best. It's then good to go.

I'm not sure Charlotte's class is in my budget. However, the final results of using RAW make learning the process a valuable tool.


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November 10, 2009

 

Peter K. Burian
  Misty: My students always have this problem too with newer cameras's RAW formats and Elements.

Elements 6, 7 and 8 all support newer cameras. BUT as Dennis said, you need to go to the Adobe Web site, download the latest version of Adobe Camera Raw -- 5.5 -- and install that.

I covered exactly this topic in a Q&A last week http://www.photocrati.com/q-and-a-raw-capture-mode-is-confusing-can-you-help/

The adobe page you need is http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=4582

On that page, be sure to click on ... Camera Raw 5.5 ReadMe ... instructions for installing the updated Adobe Camera Raw.

Cheers! Peter www.peterkburian.com


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December 13, 2009

 

Lynn R. Powers
  Peter - The latest version of Adobe Camera Raw is included in PSE 5, 6 & 7.
She may have to update the firmware on her camera.

Misty it would be nice to know which camera you are using. Nikon and Canon work differently as I imagine some of the others do also.
Do not download from the camera. Use a card reader instead. It is a lot faster and you need not worry about the batteries running out and loosing some of your photos.

Did you put the CD that came with the camera into your your computer? Do that.

If you do have a Canon you will be able to see the RAW image in DPP or Zoom Browser. However when you put the photos into a folder the only thing you will see is a white paper with a camera on it and a bent corner. Underneath it will say CR2.xxxx and if you took jpeg with it the .jpeg file will be next to it. In order to open the RAW file just select the RAW file. It will open and you can do the adjustments.
Unfortunately Adobe does not allow direct transfer of files in DPP to be loaded into your folder. In order to do that you have to cut an paste. It is a pain :-(. That is why I always take photos with JPEG + RAW. This way I can tell what is under the white paper. :) If someone can tell me an easy way to do it please let me know.


Lynn


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December 25, 2009

 

Peter K. Burian
  Elements 5 is old and cannot be updated with the newer versions of the Adobe Camera Raw plug in. And the newer plug-in is required for Elements 6 or 7, for support for additional cameras' RAW file formats.

Of course, I'm not sure if we know which EOS camera Misty has.

I covered the methods for updating Adobe Elements with the Camera Raw plug-in, in this brief article at http://www.photocrati.com/q-and-a-raw-capture-mode-is-confusing-can-you-help/

I don't recall any Canon Firmware updates that were necessary to solve a problem with the RAW format.

I think Misty should try opening the CR2 files with the Canon Digital Photo Pro software. If that works fine, then she will know for sure that the problem is with her Adobe software.

Peter


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December 25, 2009

 

Lynn R. Powers
  Peter you are correct. I miss keyed. I meant to say PSE 6,7 &8. After loading PSE7 I found out that the latest ACR was included with the program.


Lynn


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January 04, 2010

 
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